Within twenty minutes, the group of first years stood at the top of a long
flight of stairs, waiting to be let into the dining hall, where all of the
older students sat waiting. Julia had worked up a knot of excitement and
nervousness. She had read about the sorting ceremony, which was what
everyone was waiting for, and it hadn't sounded that bad. But she couldn't
help but feel that she'd get sorted away from all the rest of her friends.
"Nervous?" asked a red-haired girl standing next to her.
"I can't stop shaking," Julia replied.
"Don't worry. I'm sure you'll do fine."
"Thanks. What house do you want to get into?"
"Gryffindor. You?"
"Same. I think lots of people do."
"Not everyone. There's quite a few who want to get into Slytherin."
"Why? It sounds awful!"
"They don't seem to think so," the girl told her matter-of-factly. The heavy wooden door at the top of the stairs creaked open, and a middle- aged woman wearing glasses and a very businesslike look spoke.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, first years. I am professor McGonagall, and I will be assisting in performing the sorting ceremony. When you enter the dining hall, stand in the center of the room. I will have a list of your names, and as I call you, you will come and sit on the stool, and put the sorting hat on. The hat will tell you to which house you belong. Enter, please." Professor McGonagall held the door open as the students entered the hall.
"Nervous?" asked a red-haired girl standing next to her.
"I can't stop shaking," Julia replied.
"Don't worry. I'm sure you'll do fine."
"Thanks. What house do you want to get into?"
"Gryffindor. You?"
"Same. I think lots of people do."
"Not everyone. There's quite a few who want to get into Slytherin."
"Why? It sounds awful!"
"They don't seem to think so," the girl told her matter-of-factly. The heavy wooden door at the top of the stairs creaked open, and a middle- aged woman wearing glasses and a very businesslike look spoke.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, first years. I am professor McGonagall, and I will be assisting in performing the sorting ceremony. When you enter the dining hall, stand in the center of the room. I will have a list of your names, and as I call you, you will come and sit on the stool, and put the sorting hat on. The hat will tell you to which house you belong. Enter, please." Professor McGonagall held the door open as the students entered the hall.